Mollugo cerviana

(Linnaeus) Seringe in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle

in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 392. 1824.

Common names: Slender carpet-weed thread-stem carpet-weed
Introduced
Basionym: Pharnaceum cervianum Linnaeus Sp. Pl. 1: 272. 1753
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 4. Treatment on page 511. Mentioned on page 507, 510.

Plants erect, 3–20 cm. Leaves glaucous, in whorls of 4–12, basal rosette present; petiole 0.8–1.1 mm; blade linear to spatulate, 3–15 × 1–5 mm, base cuneate, apex acute to obtuse. Inflorescences: flowers in groups of 3–4 in stalked, axillary and terminal umbellate cymes. Flowers: sepals pale green, glaucous abaxially, white adaxially, elliptic to obovate, 1–1.5 × 1–1.6 mm, margins white, membranous; stamens 5, alternate with sepals; pedicel erect to spreading, 3–11 mm. Capsules subglobose, 1.5–1.8 × 1.5–1.9 mm. Seeds 20–40, brown, finely reticulate, 0.3–0.4 × 0.2–0.4 mm. 2n = 18.


Phenology: Flowering late summer–early fall.
Habitat: Open woodlands, dry sandy soils
Elevation: 400-2300 m

Distribution

V4 1035-distribution-map.gif

Introduced; Ariz., Calif., N.Mex., Tex., Utah, n Mexico, s Europe, s Asia, Africa, Australia

Discussion

A specimen (in PH) of Mollugo cerviana is known as a waif from ballast in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Mollugo cerviana is a weed of sandy places in tropical and subtropical regions around the world (T. S. Bakshi and R. N. Kapil 1954; V. V. Sivarajan 1988). It has been used in India to treat fevers, and post-partum discharges and to purify the blood (K. R. Kirtikar and B. D. Basu 1935). In Africa, it is dried, powdered, and burned, and put in incisions to treat pleurisy, and the leaves are chewed to treat coughs and reduce hangovers (H. M. Burkill 1985). The species does not compete well in crowded conditions (Bakshi and Kapil 1954). Several varieties have been described, but delimitation of the varieties is unclear and needs further study.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Mollugo cerviana"
acute;obtuse +
Michael A. Vincent +
(Linnaeus) Seringe in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle +
cuneate +
Pharnaceum cervianum +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (1.5 cm15 mm <br />0.015 m <br />) +
linear +  and spatulate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.18 cm1.8 mm <br />0.0018 m <br />) +
subglobose +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.19 cm1.9 mm <br />0.0019 m <br />) +
Slender carpet-weed +  and thread-stem carpet-weed +
Ariz. +, Calif. +, N.Mex. +, Tex. +, Utah +, n Mexico +, s Europe +, s Asia +, Africa +  and Australia +
400-2300 m +
3-valved +  and capsular +
Open woodlands, dry sandy soils +
cymose +, umbellate +  and reduced +
terminal +  and axillary +
alternate +, opposite +  and whorled +
membranous +
erect +  and spreading +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (1.1 cm11 mm <br />0.011 m <br />) +
connate +  and distinct +
0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br /> (0.11 cm1.1 mm <br />0.0011 m <br />) +
Flowering late summer–early fall. +
appearing +  and axile +
3-aperturate +
in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. +
bakshi1954a +
reticulate +  and ribbed +
0.03 cm0.3 mm <br />3.0e-4 m <br /> (0.04 cm0.4 mm <br />4.0e-4 m <br />) +
reniform;flattened +
0.02 cm0.2 mm <br />2.0e-4 m <br /> (0.04 cm0.4 mm <br />4.0e-4 m <br />) +
white +  and pale green +
persistent +
distinct +
elliptic +  and obovate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.16 cm1.6 mm <br />0.0016 m <br />) +
Introduced +
hypogynous +
prostrate;erect +
borne on styles +  and sessile +
3 +  and 5 +
distinct +
Lampetia +
Mollugo cerviana +
species +